Despondency is not a state of humility; on the contrary, it is the vexation and despair of a cowardly pride--nothing is worse; whether we stumble or whether we fall, we must only think of rising again and going on in our course.

The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become toward the defects of other people.

So long as we are full of self we are shocked at the faults of others. Let us think often of our own sin, and we shall be lenient to the sins of others.

If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.

The youth who, like a woman, loves to adorn his person, has renounced all claim to wisdom and to glory; glory is due to those only who dare to associate with pain, and have trampled pleasure under their feet.

Had we not faults of our own, we should take less pleasure in complaining of others.

Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer.